Finally, a fit for me! - Sony LinkBuds Clip

Quick Overview

The Sony LinkBuds Clip are an interesting take on open-ear earbuds, offering excellent situational awareness and decent sound quality with a strong bass presence in the default setting, though they lack the LDAC codec and require users to choose between maximum sound quality or complete environmental isolation.

Key Points: The Sony LinkBuds Clip are open-ear earbuds that clip onto the outer ear, unlike the previous circular LinkBuds that inserted into the ear canal. The default 'Standard' listening mode offers a surprisingly full sound profile for open-ear design, with notable bass, although some users reported the bass being too strong initially. Switching to 'Voice Boost' mode increases voice volume for noisy environments, while 'Sound Leakage Reduction' suppresses high-pitched sounds that might leak out. The earbuds feature Bluetooth 5.3 connectivity and an IPX4 water resistance rating. Battery life is rated at 9 hours for the earbuds themselves and 28 hours total with the case, totaling 37 hours. The reviewer noted that while the sound quality is good for open-ear devices, the lack of the LDAC codec and the open design mean there is an inherent trade-off against isolation and absolute peak sound quality. The tapping controls are highly customizable via the Sony app, allowing assignment of functions like playback control, volume control, and quick access to services like Spotify or Endel.

Context: The video provides a hands-on review and first impressions of the Sony LinkBuds Clip, the successor to the original LinkBuds. The presenter focuses on the new design, which clips onto the outer ear rather than sitting inside the ear canal, aiming to maintain situational awareness. Key aspects reviewed include the physical design, the three built-in listening modes accessible via the companion app, sound quality tests using music, and the microphone quality.

Detailed Analysis

The Sony LinkBuds Clip utilize a new open-ear design where the earbud components clip onto the outer ear structure rather than sealing the ear canal, unlike the original LinkBuds. The presenter expresses initial skepticism but finds the fit secure, noting that the silicone tips that gently squeeze the ear structure help keep them in place. The packaging is eco-friendly, made of recycled paper. The case is glossy on top and matte on the bottom, and it charges via USB-C and includes a pairing button. The earbuds feature Bluetooth 5.3 and an IPX4 water resistance rating, offering 9 hours of playback per charge, totaling 37 hours with the case. In terms of sound quality, the default 'Standard' mode delivers a surprisingly full sound with strong bass, which the reviewer found somewhat excessive initially, noting the bass drops off sharply below 100Hz. The 'Voice Boost' mode is recommended for noisy environments as it increases voice volume, while 'Sound Leakage Reduction' attempts to suppress leakage, though the reviewer found this mode made the audio sound muffled. The open design inherently compromises isolation and ultimate fidelity compared to sealed earbuds, as evidenced by the frequency response graph showing significant peaks and dips in the treble range compared to the target preference curve. Microphone quality was tested by recording the presenter speaking, and it sounded far away and muffled when heard back, suggesting the external microphones pick up significant ambient noise due to the open design. The app allows deep customization of tap controls for both the left and right buds, including assigning functions like double-tap for play/pause or triple-tap for next song, and assigning volume control via repeated taps.